Sash balance



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 18, 1944. BERRY SASH BALANCE Filed April 24, 1942 v III] 1777/);

Ha as e ZZ Be R. BERRY SASH BALANCE July 18, 1944.

Filed April 24, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fiu seZZ Be Patented July 18, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SASHl Russell Berry, Royal Oak, Mich.

Application April 24, 1942, Serial No. 440,381

1 Claim.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in means for counterbalancing sliding sash windows in virtue of which, while the sash is free to be slid up and down, it will nevertheless stay put in any position to which it may be lifted or lowered.

Primarily the invention has for an object to provide such a sash balance as can be used on any kind of sliding sash windows, regardless'oi whether or not window frames or jambs are used, and regardless of whether or not the frames or jambs are provided with sash guide strips or not.

Another object is to provide an improved sash balance of a construction that may be used on any window, regardless of variations in weight of the window, without altering the construction of the balance.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out hereinafter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends the invention still further resides in the novel details of construction, combination and arrangement Of parts, all of which will be first fully described in the following detailed description, and then be particularly pointed out in the appended claim, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a horizontal section of a portion of a window construction embodying my invention, taken on line l-l in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a detail vertical section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of a portion of a sash balance according to my invention.

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the abutment lugs.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing theinvention applied to window constructions which do not have sash guide strips.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of another embodiment of my invention.

Fig. '7 is a cross-section of the same on line 1-1 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one of the stop blocks or lugs used in the embodiment shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8.

In the drawings, in which like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures, l represents a window jamb or frame of ordinary construction, 3 the usual window sashes, and 2 sash guide strips. The window sashes 3 are grooved along their sides from top to bottom, as at 4, to fit the guide strips with a sliding fit.

About midway (preferably) the height of the sash, each groove 4 is deepened or countersunk as at 5 for a sufiicient distance to receive the sash balance which constitutes the principal part Of my invention.

My improved balance comprises an inner or base strip 6 of fiat channel form having a T shaped channel in which one end each of a plurality of coil springs 8 is slipped and retained in spaced relation to one another. A similarly shaped outer strip 1 of flat channel form having a T-shaped channel receives the other ends of the springs 8. The strip I is shorter than the strip 6 in order that abutment lugs may be secured in the ends of the strip 6 and serve to prevent substantial longitudinal movement of strip 1 when the balance is in use.

The abutment lugs each comprises a base I U shaped to fit into the member 6 (see Figs. 3 and 4) and an abutment proper 9, whose sides are grooved to receive the flanges of the member 6, and to lie against the ends of strip 1 when the balance is in use (Fig. 2). Each base II! has a screw-passing hole I! and the member 6 likewise has holes It with which the holes H register so that by means of two screws, each passing through one pair of holes ll, I6, and screwed into the window sash, the balance may be secured in the countersunk groove 5 (Fig. 2)

The number of springs 8 employed in each device is variable and will depend on the weight of the window to which the device is applied.

. For heavier windows more springs will be used than for lighter windows. Just enough springs should be used slightly to overcome the weight of the window, and yet enough to hold the window in its adjusted positions up or down without imparting too much friction and interfering with the easy lifting and lowering of the Window.

In Fig. 5 I have shown the invention applied to a window construction having no guide strips 2 but provided with a separation strip I3 and side guides l4 and I5. In this figure I" is the frame or jamb, and 3 designates the sashes.

The above described embodiment of my invention is preferably constructed of metal.

The invention may also be embodied in a device constructed, except for the springs, wholly of wood. Such an embodiment is disclosed in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive.

In these figures the base strip 6 and the slide strip l' have dove-tail grooves or longitudinal slots to receive the springs 8 The abutments 9 have dove-tails 1 to fit into the dove-tail grooves of the base strip 6 screw holes H and I6 being provided in the abutments 9 and base strip 6, respectively, for the mounting screws l2. Either of the balances may be used on one or both sides of the window, as desired.

The other parts shown in Figs. 6 and 7, which are like corresponding parts in the preceding figures, bear the same reference numeral plus the index letter a. v

The balances may be made in any desired lengths to suit varied window conditions met with in practice, and I desire it understood that changes in the details of construction, proportions of parts, etc., can readily be made within the scope of the appended claim.

The foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, will, it is thought, make clear the construction and advantages of the invention to those skilled inthe art to which it relates.

What I claim is:

A sash balance comprising two strips each having an undercut channel extending from end to end, one of said strips constituting a base strip for being secured to a. Window sash and the other of which is a floating strip for contacting a fixed part of a window frame or jamb, a plurality of coil springs each slidably having their respective ends held in said grooves, said springs holding said strips assembled, the base strip being longer than the other strip and having holes adjacent its ends, and abutment lugs to engage in the ends of said base strip and having holes, and means passing through said holes for securing said abutment lugs in place and for securing the base strip to the window sash.

RUSSELL BERRY. 

